The NHL will see a change in overtime for the next regular season. Since 2005-2006, the NHL used a 4 on 4, 5-minute sudden death period when the game was tied at the end of regulation. If tied after that, they went to a shootout. Both teams picked three players and they alternated shots. The team that was ahead after three tries won. If they were still tied, they headed into sudden death. This meant each team chose a shooter who hadn’t gone yet. They would try to score on the opponents’ goalie. If they scored and the other team didn’t, that team won but if they were tied they would keep doing that until there was a winner. The NHL wants games to end before the shootout. They just adopted 3 on 3, for the 5-minute overtime before heading into a shootout. Is this a good idea?
Last season 170 games went into a shootout or 13.8% of all games. That was down from the year before. In 2014, 178 games or 14.5% ended in a shootout. Not a bad number but not a great number. The NHL wants this figure decreased.
The National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) and the NHL General Managers were looking to reduce shootouts. General Managers wanted a hybrid style, like the American Hockey League where they start 4 on 4 and finish with 3 on 3 for the last three minutes of overtime. The NHLPA was against this because the top players were the ones who play the most in the overtime sessions. They then agreed to a 3 on 3, 5-minute format.
According to ESPN General Manager of the Nashville Predators, David Poile said, “I think what the goal was here was to reduce the shootouts. The managers just really felt they’d like to end more games in an overtime situation versus the shootout”. He also believes this makes the regular season games more interesting.
The NHLPA and the General Managers have the right idea. This past year it seemed when regular season games went into overtime, teams didn’t take many chances. They were content to head to a shootout. With 3 on 3, the game should be wide-open. Scoring chances will be up and we could see games end before a shootout. This is a much needed change and overtime will be more exciting to watch. The Board of Governors approved the rule change and we will see this used next year.
What do you think of the new overtime rule in the NHL?
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